Projectile for antiaircraft fire



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Jan. 21, 1930. P. LocoRl PROJECTILE FOR ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE Filed Deo. 24, 1927 Patented Jan. 2l, 1930 PATENT OFFICE PIETRO LOCORI, OF PITELLI, ITALY PROJECTILE FOR ANTIAIRCRAIT FIRE Application led December 24, 1927," Serial No. 242,413, and in Italy January 11, 1927.

My invention relates to a projectile which shot againstc aircraft, at the right moment ejects from the inside al parachute which opens Ainstantaneously unwiriding a thin steel cable of great length which remains hanging down from the parachute itself.

Such cable, which remains vertical during the descent of the parachute, might turn out fatal for an airplane which should chance to meet it on its course, especially if the propel- 1ers were to become entangled, and it is obvious that on discharging severalshots, fired at short intervals or at the same time, there would be formed a curtain of thin cables of a most dangerous kind to one or more aircrafts.

By way of example, an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the annexed drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a cable carrying projectile, while Fig. 2 represents some details of the linking of the cable to the parachute.

The projectile consists (Fig. 1) of a cylindrical steel shell ending at its forepart in an ogive provided with a threaded hole 2 for the reception of a time fuse; at the back however the projectile is open so as to allow insertion in the chamber of the following parts (l) The charge holder 3 of brass with light rims folded in such a way to contain a small powder charge 4 for the expulsion of the cable together with the parachute; said charge holder in its centre lgs the attachment 5 for one end 0f the cable 6;

(2) A hollow cylinder 7 of iron sheet metal cut longitudinally into two or more sectors so as to form cheeks embracing the cable folded upon itself and accompanying it upon its issue from the projectile chamber;

(3) rlhe cable 6, folded upon itself in a longitudinal direction, so as to form a bundle of a cylindrical shape well tightened between the cheeks aforementioned;

(4) A supporting disc 8 cut into two halves 45 according to a diametral line; said disc carries, besides supporting the aforesaid parts, pin 9 to the upper end 10 of which is fastened the other end of cable 6, while on the lower end it carries the revolving ring 11 at which 5o the suspensions 12 of the parachute 13 end;

(5) Two other cheeks 14, stronger than the above mentioned, embrace the foresaid parachute 6 suitably folded;

(6) The bottom stopper 15 which enters the chamber of projectile with a slightly conical shape, and tightly closes it, a leaden packing 16 being fixed to the projectile by means of four copper pins 17; this bottom stopper extends in far enough to find itself under the copper ring 18 in such a way so as o to prevent, when iired, an excess of deformation of the metal under the ring itself; at the same time the conical shape efficiently cooperates to help the stopper to easily detach itself, in case such deformation should occur.

In Fig. 2 are shown the details of pin 9 at which end both the extremity of the small cable 6 and the suspensions 12 of parachute 13. As will be easily seen from the drawing, the attachment of cable 6 to pin 9 is made by means of a tube 19 and a thimble 20 wherein the end of the cable is contained; in said thimble is screwed onto pin 9 so as to-tighten the end 22 of the foregoing` cable. In the charge holder which tightens the end of the other end of the cable placed in a tube like the foregoing, instead of the thimble it is the nut 28 which is screwed on.

The attachment of the pin 9 to the suspensions of the parachute is effected by means of an annular piece 11 threaded by means of a special hole, onto pin 9 and held in its place by a washer 23 and a nut 24: screwed on to the pin itself.

The operation of the projectile is as follows: When the projectile red by the gun has reached the point of its trajectory established by the time fuse, the latter comes into action and through hole 25 sets fire to the small charge of powder 26 which immediately causes a pressure by means of the cheeks 7 and 14 upon the bottom 15, clips the pins 17 and expels all the inner parts. Cheeks 14 are the first to leave and to detach themselves laterally owing to centrifugal force thus releasing the parachute, which immediately unfolds itself; next follow disc 8 and cheeks 7 which for the same reason get separated and lastly there follows the charge holder 3 which being attached on the other end of the small cable,

comes to the assistance of the parachute so that the cable itself may stretch out and take its vertical position as soon as possible.

It is understood that the execution form described above may be changed without trespassing the scopes of the invention.

Claims:

1. In projectiles for anti-aircraft fire cornprising a shell, a cable, a parachute, and means for expelling said parts from the bottom of said shell with the cable placed near the ogive and the parachute near the bottom of the shell, the cable being folded upon itself in a longitudinal direction forming a bundlel having its two ends diametrically placed in the center of said shell at opposite points.

2. A cable projectile for anti-aircraft fire as specified in claim 1, including in the ogive of the shell a charge-holdercontaining a charge for backwardly expelling the cable and the parachute, said charge-holder having box-shape and having on the side of its priming hole lan opening, the lips being thin and adapted to be easily dilated for the purpose of preventing by their adhesion against the inner walls of the shell, on account of the pressure caused by the explosion of the charge, any ow of gas towards the forward portion of the shell.

3. A cable projectile for anti-aircraft re, as specified in claim 1, including a chargeholder near the ogive of the shell, a removable stopper closing the bottom, a diaphragm separating the cable from the parachute, and a cylindrical casing holding the cable, the said diaphragm and the parachute together and extending from said charge-holder toward said stopper, transmitting thereto the action of the charge at the moment of the explosion, said cylindrical casing and said diaphragm being longitudinally divided diametrically permitting all said parts to freely drop away on leaving the shell.

4. A cable projectile for anti-aircraft re as specified in claim 1, including a forcing copper ring placed on said shell, and a removable bottom stopper of frusto-conical shape extending into said shell as far as said copper ring so as to prevent striction of the bottom opening of said shell.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature this 12th day of December, 1927.

PIETRO LOCORI. 

